World champions tip Whincup to surprise in Race of Champions

Multiple world champions Mick Doohan and Andy Priaulx are expecting Jamie Whincup to be a surprise packet when the Race of Champions switches into competitive mode tonight.

The majority of the ROC field tested out the Rajamangala Stadium layout in Bangkok, Thailand, during a three hour practice session yesterday ahead of Saturday night’s Nations Cup contest.

Countries are represented by two-man teams in the Nations Cup, with former five-time world motorcycle champion Mick Doohan representing Australia alongside Whincup.

Doohan has warned the other competitors – which includes likes of Sebastian Vettel, Michael Schumacher and Tom Kristensen – not to be fooled by Whincup’s continual downplaying of his chances for Sunday’s individual contest.

“Jamie is picking it up really quickly,” Doohan, who is making his third ROC appearance this year, told Speedcafe.com following practice.

“He was generally pretty tentative in his first few practice laps, like everyone is, but he knows how to throw a car around.

“I suspect he’s going to surprise, especially in the individual race on Sunday. If he’s not in the top four then he’s had a bad run I’d say.”

Mick Doohan has been sharpening his ROC skills in his own buggy

Doohan and Whincup were able to undertake a small amount of pre-event practice at the motorcycling legend’s Gold Coast property before heading to Thailand.

Doohan’s facility includes a karting circuit, while he also has a buggy, pictured, that’s similar in specification to those used in the ROC.

“Mine is a bit smaller with a little bit less power, but any miles that I could do pre-event were good because I don’t race anything full-time,” he said.

Former three-time World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx, meanwhile, is the only driver in the 16 strong ROC field to have raced against Whincup before – the pair meeting during the Briton’s occasional V8 Supercars endurance race appearances.

Priaulx was part of the Triple Eight V8 Supercars line-up at the 2010 and 2011 Armor All Gold Coast 600s, and says the four-time V8 Supercars Champion is world class.